Ed O, Singletrack’s favourite pirate impersonator, owner of local guiding company www.great-rock.co.uk, and Shed Fire test rider, popped round for coffee and to show us his new Shed Fire Ragley. He reckons it’s more fun that boarding canal boats with a cutlass, we’re not so sure about that, but it does look fun.

We’ll get some more details from Ed or Brant and hopefully get a ride on one soon. (Pun intended)

The Ragley, titanium 'grrrrrr' bike, designed in Calderdale by a man in a shed built in the US by Lynskey in a bigger shed.This is the 16" Ragley, looks suitably slack and low to us even with 140mm forks.Proving that someone has been sweating the details is this hidden away chainstay bridge.You're now 98% less likely to catch your jeans on your disc caliper when doing supermen, something we are always doing. Ahem.Fell off the back of a sea container and into the back of a van.

in what way would it be better with some detail machined in it?
prettier to look at? (it’s not exactly a looker)
something to make a cnc machinist break out in a wry smile?
somewhere for the sycophants to keep their lipsalve?
a bottle opener perhaps?

That plate at the top of the seatstays is getting a revision for production as the 1.5in of welds at each side are a bit of a head-messer for the welders. It’ll be modified to be attatched by a couple of tabs at each side, so if they sneeze it won’t write the frame off.

Ed’s bike has a 2.5in High Roller in the back, so we’re happy with clearance, but I revised the chainstay bend (at 11:45pm last night) so it’s got a touch more on the non drive side.

The bolt on cable guide positions are being finalised this week, and we’ve got some lovely CNC ones coming for it.

And finally, it goes up and downhill better than anything I’ve ever ridden. But then I guess you’d expect me to say that!

Lynskey construction is definitely not agricultural, it’s among the best! Fantastic looking bike, even like the name! Looks low stable and agile, I’d love to try one but guess I’m too lanky for the 18″ frame 🙂

geom looks similar to my Commencal Ti Flame except thats based on 100mm forks.
If this rides half as nice as mine it will be an awesome ride. Altough it is an ugly beast whereas the Commie has benifit of being beautifully sculpted especailly the back end which proves that bikes can be workmanlike and pretty

Can’t believe how many people bitch about it not looking pretty enough, its for riding for fecks sake.

Oh and tyre clearance moans too – Ed-Os already pointed out those are 2.5″ high rollers tyres on there, dunno how they compare to other 2.5″s but sounds like there’ll be enough room for most peoples choice of rubber.

[i]why appoint a PR consultant when singletrack will do it for you?[/i]
Trust me, a PR consultant wouldn’t do what singletrack is doing. He or she might’ve done what Brant is doing though 🙂
But while we’re on the subject, why appoint a bike designer when singletrack will do it for you?

The ideal frame should be longer, shorter, taller, smaller, stiffer, flexier, steeper and shallower than whatever this one is. It should be made of steel, aluminium and carbon, and should run rigid, 80mm, 140mm and 220mm single double crown forks with QR, 12mm and 20mm bolt through axles.

1. There is more metal at the rear of the seat tube, so putting a slot in it has far less effect than putting it at the front – ie: ITS STRONGER THIS WAY.
2. I am far from convinced there is actually any difference in terms of “goop going down the seat tube” with front or rear slots. I know it’s something that’s often quoted, but I’m really not sure it’s any different, and bearing in mind point 1, I know what I’d rather do (which is why I did it).

i prefer the design and oversized tube dimensions of my Ti456. i do however prefer the HA of the Ragley.
the cable routing is bloody awful on the Ragley though – I told you to stick to the 456’s design for routing !
would a Tech M4 caliper fit in the rear stays on the Ragley Brant ?

I had a pootle on one last week and its well slack, feels like you are sat on a 150mm full bounce not a hardtail, i expect it will ride like its been stolen, just gives that relaxed confidence inspiring feel. However im not sure how it will climb but i reckon it will be fun in the hills of spain or the alps.
The tubing is huge too, it could have been made for £600 if the tubing was normal diameter! (kidding)